IF there’s one thing Batang Gilas gained from its 2018 Fiba Under-17 World Cup campaign in Argentina, it’s definitely the courage to go to battle regardless how strong and how tall the opposition is.
And for Gerry Abadiano, that trait will be a big boost for the national youth team when they wage war in the 2018 Fiba Under-18 Asian Championship in Nonthaburi, Thailand from August 5 to 11.
“Dito sa Pilipinas, alam namin na malakas na kami at ng team namin. Pero pag-abot ng World Cup, yung akala namin, akala lang pala kasi yung mga kalaban namin doon, di lang kasing tangkad namin, mas malaki pa sa amin at mas mabilis pa,” he said.
“Kaya yung experience na makalaban yung mga tiga-ibang bansa na pwedeng maging NBA players, madadala namin habang buhay,” the NU Bullpup further elaborated. “Hindi namin iniisip kung gaano kalaki o gaano kahina yung kalaban, basta kung ano yung nasa sistema namin, yun ang susundin namin. Kung ano ang kailangan naming gawin para manalo, gagawin namin yun.”
Abadiano is one of the few holdovers from the World Cup squad that will go to war in the continental tilt, together with bigs Kai Sotto, Raven Cortez, and Geo Chiu.
Though he knows how big the responsibility vested on his shoulders is being one of only two point guards in the squad alongside Dalph Panopio, he’s coming in confident thanks to the presence of his NU coach Goldwyn Monteverde, who is a deputy for head coach Josh Reyes in the team.
“Syempre malaking bagay yun kasi siya rin ang naga-guide sa akin, hindi lang as his player pero kahit sa labas din ng court. Pag magkasama kaming dalawa, sinasabi niya sa akin ang mga mali ko at mga kailangan kong iimprove, kung ano pa ang kailangan naming pagtrabahuan para manalo kami sa tournament,” he said.
Abadiano and the rest of Batang Gilas fly to Thailand on Friday, with the Philippines placed in Group B with China, Lebanon, and United Arab Emirates.
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